28.02.2005 The Council has approved the eContentplus programme. The 4-year programme (2005-08), proposed by the European Commission, will have a budget of 149 million € to tackle the fragmentation of the European digital content market and improve the accessibility and usability of geographical information, cultural content and educational material.
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STRATEGIC STUDIES

Mid term evaluation of the eContent programme
The Commission has adopted on 10 October a Communication with the results of the mid term evaluation of the eContent programme (2001 - 2004). The text of a Communication to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions is available below in all EU official languages.

Indicators for European Digital Content for the Global Networks
The study on "indicators for European digital content for the global networks" was carried out as part of the eEurpe benchmarking activities, monitoring developments which are indicative of what is happening in the Information Society. The main focus was to measure the content usage in terms of origin and reach of the top 50 websites in the EU and the US. Download the
Executive Summary
and
full report
.

Digital Content for Global Mobile Services
The European Commission DG Information Society mandated a study to identify the major actions that can be taken by the industry, the Member States and the European Commission to foster the development of the mobile content market in Europe. The
Executive Summary and full report
can be downloaded.

Access to capital to the content industries in Europe
Aim of the study was to examine access of the content industries to capital sources for financing risk-bearing projects/ventures. The study gives an answer to questions like: Is there really a problem? Are the digital content industries different in respect to other sectors an what are the typical barriers? And what can be done to bring content industries and financial institutions together?

Access to capital for the content industry final report in PDF format:
753 kb

Commercial exploitation of Europe's public sector
information
Aim of the study was to give an economic analysis of the importance of public
sector information in the digital economy and to assess barriers and
opportunities for its exploitation. The study results show indeed the enormous
potential of public sector information for the information industries and the
benefits American firms draw from the clear and simple framework in the United
States. Download the "Commercial exploitation of Europe's public sector
information" Executive Summary in PDF format:
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kb
210 kb

Export potential and linguistic customisation of digital content
products and services
Focus of this study were the new opportunities that open up for the
digital content industries through the use of linguistic and cultural adaptation
of their products. Apart from highlighting these opportunities and barriers, the
study gives an overview of the degree of localisation of web-sites in Europe and
makes suggestions for actions to be undertaken by industry, national governments
and the European Union. Download the "Export potential and linguistic
customisation of digital content products and services" Executive Summary in PDF
format:
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Content Study Forum
The European Commission DG Information Society mandated a study on the feasibility of a Digital Content Observatory and Content Forum.
TheExecutive Summary and full report
are now available for download.

Impact Assessment of Community Activities under
INFO2000
Aim of this study was to examine in detail the quantitative and qualitative
impact of the activities carried out under the INFO2000 programme and to assess
their performance in stimulating the development of the European digital content
market. The assessment shows the success of the programme and gives suggestions
for future Community activities in the field of digital content. Download
the "Impact Assessment of Community Activities under INFO2000" Executive Summary
in PDF format:
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155 kb
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